Here is a Japanese in the World - Kuching Sarawak Malaysia Borneo

TV Tokyo came to Kuching in March to shoot a documentary of a Japanese living in Kuching. This person, Madam Sakai who was originally from Osaka, has been residing in this capital city of Sarawak for more than thirty years.

Kazuya Sakusabe who led a 2-man crew also went on location shoot at the various places of interest in Kuching during the four-day trip .

The storyboard revolves around Mdm. Sakai's daily life and how she handles local culture, lifestyle and business practices. Also included are the tourism sights and sounds of Kuching and the surrounding areas.

Down memory lane-trip for Mdm Sakai - Ki-kyo-Tei tepanyaki restaurant but it is now a Thai restaurant known as Mango Tree.

At the Japanese war cemetry, Batu Lintang. It is taken care of by members of the Japanese Association Kuching of which Mdm Sakai is a member of.

Yuki Pub - A members only get-together place for the Japanese expatriates living in Kuching

Meeting up with the Acting Director of Forestry Department, Haji Sapuan Ahmad to talk about the reforestation programme that Mdm Sakai and Japanese dignitaries were involved in.  

Location shoot at the eastern gateway of Kuching Chinatown - Jalan Padungan

Going up-close to a local delicacy - UMAI - raw fish steeped in lemon juice, chilly, onions and lemon grass 

Visiting the Santubong Homestay Village with the legendary mountain of the same name in the background. The peninsular on which the village is located is also home to the famous Sarawak Cultural Village - a living museum that showcases the major ethnic groups of Sarawak. Other interesting tourism attractions documented were the Semenggok Orang Utan Center, Gunung Gading National Park, Annah Rais longhouse and the beaches in Lundu.

The production of this programme was facilitated and hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board.

Content by: Ozie Tunging - Tourism Coordination Visitor Information Center Kuching

Our People - Orang Ulu

The northern region of Sarawak is home to the 'Orang Ulu' tribe; a collective name to represent the various ethnic sub-groups. They include the Kelabits, the Lun Bawans, the Berawans and the shy and semi-nomadic Penans. In the region above Kapit and the Pelagus Rapids, the Orang Ulu people literally known as "upriver people", consists of the Kayans, Kenyahs, Kajangs, Lahanans and the Punans. The Kayan sub-group forms the largest among them.

Bottom left: Kayan lady with arm tattoo. Bottom right: Lun Bawang bamboo band

The majority of the Kelabit tribe are found in the Kelabit Highlands.  The highland is a series of beautiful mountain valleys lying slightly over 1,000m above sea level and flanked by jungle-covered peaks rising to more than 2,400m. The climate is probably the most pleasant in Sarawak, although it can become quite chilly in the evenings. The Kelabits and the neighbouring and closely-related Lun Bawangs produce the fragrant and much sought-after Bario (Adnan) rice. Both groups are branches of the Orang Ulu, and live in a combination of longhouses and individual units that are widely dispersed throughout the area. They are friendly, hospitable people and enjoy receiving visitors.

Bario - the Kelabit Highlands

Bakelalan (formerly Ba’ Kelalan) is a remote settlement, home of the Lun Bawang ethnic group. The village is famous for its apples and organic vegetables, and their musical 'bamboo band'. The village is connected to Lawas and Miri by air, and it is also possible to travel there via a combination of existing and old logging roads. There is a hot spring with resort accommodation at Merarap, about 68 km from Lawas town where a pleasant beach, 7-km away at Punang can be found.

Bakelalan - home of the Lun Bawang

The Batang (river) Baram, Malaysia’s (and Sarawak’s) second longest river, drains much of the northern region, and also is home to many of the Orang Ulu sub-groups. Much of the Baram region is inaccessible, but there are some fascinating attractions in the region. There is the famous Gunung Mulu National Park and the lesser-known Loagan Bunut National Park known for its disappearing lake. Other places of interest to visitors include the small riverside town of Marudi, the bustling Kenyah community at Long San and the delightful Kayan longhouse community of Long Bedian; the amazing Tenyok Rimba waterfall is nearby.

Some Kayans in the Sungai Asap Resettlement programme, Belaga (3-hour drive from Bintulu) are involved in homestay programme. They also organise game fishing trips in the Bakun lake; an area the size of Singapore.

Gunung Mulu National Park - A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

Like the Ibans, the Orang Ulu are also former head-hunters but they live in even more imposing longhouses than the former. Also, their arts and crafts are very different. The Orang Ulu especially the Kayans and Kenyahs are known for their woodcarving, beadwork, spectacular 'keliring' or totem poles and the music of the hauntingly beautiful lute instrument - the 'sape'. Tattooing and body ornamentation are prominent; older ladies can be recognised by the brass rings hanging from their extended earlobes and from the dense dark tattoos on their arms and legs, a practice that is disappearing from the younger generation.

Top right: Kelabit lady stringing beads

Sarawak... Where Adventure Lives

Author: Erivina 

Our People - Chinese

Chinese forms the second largest group of Sarawak's population after the main Iban tribe.

"Chinese pioneers first came to Sarawak as traders and explorers in the 6th century.  The Sarawak Chinese belong to a wide range of dialect groups, the more significant ones being Foochow, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, and Puxian Min." (wikipedia)

In Kuching
Main Bazaar, opposite the Waterfront, is the oldest street in the city and the heart of old Kuching. It has some superb examples of Chinese shophouse architecture, many of which have been occupied by the same family for generations. These families still pursue traditional occupations such as tin-smithing, carpentry and petty trading. Kuching’s highest concentration of antique and handicraft shops are to be found here, and shoppers can rest between bargaining sessions in a number of old-fashioned coffee shops with panelled walls and marble-topped tables.

Main Bazaar

Carpenter Street, parallel to Main Bazaar, has a similar selection of small traders and coffee shops, as well as food stalls and two small Chinese temples. The whole area oozes charm and character. Off Leboh China (Upper China St.) there is a row of perfectly preserved 19th century Chinese houses.

Carpenter Street

Guan Thian Siang Ti Temple

Kueh Seng Onn Temple

The ornately decorated Tua Pek Kong Temple is located on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, opposite the Waterfront, and is the oldest Chinese temple in Kuching. It is believed to date from 1843, although official records only recognize its existence since 1876. The Wang Kang festival to commemorate the dead is held here. 

 Tua Pek Kong Temple

The Chinese History Museum is situated on the Waterfront opposite the Tua Pek Kong temple. It traces the history of the Chinese community in Sarawak. Exhibits include the early trade routes, initial migration from various regions of China, geographical distribution, the early pioneers, traditional trading activities, the formation of trade and community associations, political history and the involvement of the Chinese community in modern, multi-racial Sarawak.

Chinese History Museum

Jalan Padungan is lined with Chinese shophouses, mostly built in the 1920’s and 30’s during the rubber boom. Some are very elegantly decorated, and a walk round the back of the buildings can reveal fascinating architectural details. The area has some excellent coffee shops and restaurants, more handicraft shops and some unusual specialist retailers. The Great Cat of Kuching, a monumental kitsch statue, is situated at the junction of Jln Padungan and Jln Central. It celebrates the major festive seasons of the various ethnic group by wearing their traditional costume; a pet (pun intended) project of Kuching City South Council

Jalan Padungan

In Sibu

The residents of Sibu are predominantly Foochow Chinese, originating from the Fuzhou region of southern China, and the town is often referred to as New Fuzhou.

Sibu’s transformation began in 1901 with the arrival of Foochow settlers from southern China, led by the Reverend Wong Nai Siong. Rev. Wong was a Methodist missionary who sought to find a safe haven for his followers, who were subject to religious persecution in China. Rev. Wong petitioned Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, who gladly offered land in the Lower Rejang area in order to develop Sarawak’s agriculture. The first batch of 72 pioneers arrived in 1901, and by 1903 over 1,000 Christian Foochow had made their homes in Sibu. They were later followed by a sizable group of Henghuas and Cantonese during the 1st World War period.

Wong Nai Siong Memorial Garden

The early Chinese settlers planned to cultivate rice, but soon found that the soil was unsuitable for profitable rice farming and turned their attention to pepper, rubber and gambier (a sticky resin formerly used in place of rubber).

Tua Pek Kong Temple & Goddess of Mercy Pagoda, the 100-year old Tua Pek Kong Temple (Jln Temple) is the oldest and best preserved Chinese temple in Sibu.  The adjacent 7-storey Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) Pagoda was added in 1987, and is said to be one of the most perfectly proportioned pagodas outside Mainland China. 

Sibu Tua Pek Kong Temple & Goddess of Mercy Pagoda

Sungai Merah Heritage Walk, the site of the earliest Chinese settlements in Sibu, Sungai Merah (Red River) is an old bazaar about 10 minutes by road from the town centre. The area has recently been restored and landscaped, with a pleasant walking trail along the river front (the water really is red, changing occasionally to yellow!) which leads through a quaintly landscaped park to the Wong Nai Siong Memorial Garden (see pic), erected in honour of the town’s principal founder and featuring a bronze statue of the missionary leader.

Sungai Merah Heritage Walk

The Yu Lun San Tien En Si (Jade Dragon Temple) at the Sibu-Bintulu road is believed to be the largest temple complex not only in Malaysia but in South East Asia as well. It is a religious place for Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism and is known for bringing all 3 different forms of practice under one roof.

There are a number of potteries around Sibu which produce excellent quality wares in tra­ditional Teochew Chinese styles, albeit with strong local influences.

Tra­ditional Teochew styles potteries in Sibu

In Miri
Chinese labourers came to Miri to work in the coalmines and oilfields. These labourers were mainly Hakka and Cantonese, with a smaller number of Teochews and Hainanese.

Miri Old Town is a narrow warren of streets crammed with tiny shops selling a huge variety of goods, from Chinese funeral supplies to hi-tech electronics, as well as some of the most traditional and original coffee shops in town. The Old Town is gradually being renovated, street-by-street, but the architectural style and layout is being carefully preserved.

Tua Pek Kong temple at Jalan Bendahara is dedicated to the deity most beloved by overseas Chinese. According to local legend, work started in the temple in 1913, in order to give thanks to the deity for helping to end a mysterious epidemic.

Miri Tua Pek Kong temple

The San Ching Tian temple (Jalan Krokop 9) is the largest Taoist temple in Southeast Asia. The superb red roof, elegant lotus design motifs and the delightful wind chimes make this a very impressive place to visit.

Miri San Ching Tian Taoist temple

Till today the Sarawak Chinese still maintain their heritage and culture, celebrating all the major cultural festivals, such as the Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. You can witness all these wonderful happenings here in Sarawak... where adventure lives.

Mooncake Festival at Carpenter Street Kuching

By: Erivina Jihel

Sarawak Tourism Board

Our People - Malay

The Malay forms the third largest group of people in Sarawak, after the Iban and Chinese.

In Kuching, the Malay Kampungs (villages) along the riverside next to Fort Margherita have some beautiful examples of traditional and modern Malay architecture. There are some more superb Malay houses around Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol, behind the Kuching Mosque. Both these areas are particularly noteworthy as they are self-contained, intact communities existing within a modern city.

There are a few interesting coastal Malay villages in the Santubong Peninsula. The most accessible from Damai is Kampung Santubong, a well-kept Malay village at the foot of Mount Santubong. Pasir Panjang and Pasir Pandak are two beach-side kampungs which are surrounded by small rolling hills, coconut groves and durian orchards. Although Santubong is within walking distance (4 km) from Damai beach, the other villages require transport.  

Buntal, a colourful Malay fishing village located off the Kuching-Santubong road approx. 25 km from Kuching, is famous for the seafood restaurants perched on wooden stilts which line the shore. Less well known is that the surrounding sand flats, mangroves, rivers and nearshore waters provide a rich habitat for a range of wildlife. Buntal is an important wintering ground for migratory bird species and the best site in the Santubong Peninsula for bird watching. The whole Bako-Buntal Bay is listed as an ‘Important Bird Area’ under Birdlife International’s Asia programme.  The best time for bird watching is from October to March, when large numbers of migratory birds can be seen in the Buntal river estuary. These include a variety of plovers, terns, egrets, sandpipers and godwits plus some rare migrants. Resident birds often sighted include the white-bellied sea eagle, brahminy kite and collared kingfisher. The mangroves near Buntal support a range of wildlife including silver-leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, otters, crocodiles and a diversity of birdlife. Irrawaddy dolphins are also found in waters close to the village and occasionally enter the Buntal River at high tide. Buntal Boat Cruise offers a range of mangrove and wildlife cruises around the Buntal area.

Sarawak Malay language is different from Bahasa Malaysia, here are a few examples of the more commonly used words in Bahasa Melayu Sarawak:

English -> Bahasa Malaysia -> Bahasa Melayu Sarawak
Me -> Saya -> Kamek
You -> Kamu -> Kitak
No -> Tidak -> Sik
Yes -> Ya -> Aok
Cat -> Kucing-> Pusak
Clever -> Pandai -> Pande
Chicken -> Ayam -> Manok

By: Erivina Jihel

Sarawak Tourism Board

Our People - Bidayuh

Bidayuh is a collective name for several indigenous groups of  people living the southern part of Sarawak. They are noted for their hospitality and warm smiles. The name "Bidayuh" means "people of the land". "Bi" mean "people" or "orang" and "Dayuh" mean "Land". They are also known as the Land Dayaks, a term first used during the time of James Brooke, the first White Rajah (king) of Sarawak. 

Bidayuh costumes in the trade mark black and red colour combination. The hat, known as 'Tirinak', belongs to the 'Bukar Sadong' Bidayuh group (Serian area). And to the right is a Selako Bidayuh (Sematan area). 

They are the second most numerous group of Dayak tribe after the Ibans. They come from the areas around Kuching and Samarahan divisions. The Bidayuh of different areas speak their own dialect. These dialects are not mutually intelligible, and as a result, the Bidayuhs often have to depend on using English or Malay as a common language.

The Bidayuhs are known for their 'Ogong' gong ensemble, gigantic drums and a unique bamboo percussion instrument known as the 'pratuakng'.

'Pratuakng' of the Biannah group (Padawan)

'Bukar Sadong' Bidayuh from Serian

Wearing of brass rings by the Bidayuh ladies from Kpg (villlage) Semban, Padawan is a dying culture.

Districts where the Bidayuh form a majority include Lundu, Bau, Penrissen, Padawan, Siburan and Serian. There are a number of tourism attractions in the region they live in such as the boutique rivers and limestone caves to enjoy kayaking and caving activities, longhouse visits, homestay, village stay, orang utan and rafflesia experiences and; the coolness of the Borneo Highland Resorts. You can find more information at Sarawak... where adventure lives

Our People - Iban

Iban claims the largest population, thus making this language the most widely used in Sarawak.

The Iban, formerly known as Sea Dayaks, are famous for their head-hunting past, their massive ironwood longhouses, their ornate body tattooing, their wonderful weaving skills, and of course their potent rice wine, tuak, which is always offered to visitors. 

It is almost a crime to come to Sarawak without visiting an Iban longhouse.

Iban hospitality is legendary, and visitors are guaranteed a good time. A longhouse is basically a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof, under the authority of a headman, or tuai rumah.  Each family lives in its separate apartment, or bilik, and communal activities take place outside on the verandah, or ruai. This is also where single male visitors spend the night.  Female visitors and couples will be invited to stay inside the bilik with the family.

Most longhouses are busy, modern farming communities, and people wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts when they are at work. Traditional costumes and headdresses are usually only worn for special festivals like gawai dayak (the Iban harvest festival, 1st June), gawai antu (the ancestor festival, very rare) and weddings. If you want to see traditional rituals, customs and dances, then unless you are very lucky it is best to go with an organised tour group.  Tour groups are usually greeted with a glass of tuak (rice wine) and a welcome dance.  They are then shown around and treated to various cultural performances, including dancing and drumming. You will usually be invited to attempt the ngajat dance. Do not try to refuse as guests are expected to contribute to the entertainment just like the hosts. If you know any dances, folk songs or poems from your own country, you will make some lifelong friends, no matter how badly you perform. Normally you will be able to stay in the longhouse overnight, but if you prefer some privacy, many tour operators have their own guest houses near the longhouse.